5 active players suited to careers as TV analysts
Tony Romo's immediate success in the broadcast booth for CBS and Jason Witten's retirement in order to take the Monday Night Football analyst role with ESPN could spur other players to end their on-field careers early in favor of accepting lucrative TV offers.
Here's a look at several candidates who could follow up notable playing careers with well-received moves to TV broadcasts.
Richard Sherman, CB, 49ers (and Michael Crabtree)
Sherman's already provided must-see TV with his on-field antics and soundbites through seven seasons with the Seattle Seahawks.
The four-time Pro Bowler and three-time All-Pro will start the second chapter of his career with the San Francisco 49ers this season. Many fans circled his two games against the Seahawks as soon as the league's schedule was released in April.
Never afraid to speak his mind about his opponents, Sherman would be an excellent addition to any studio pregame or halftime show. Adding his most notable rival, wide receiver Michael Crabtree, would give the NFL its own version of the NBA's banter between Shaquille O'Neal and Charles Barkley.
Josh McCown, QB, Jets
He's never appeared in the Pro Bowl or the postseason, but McCown has made his career as a steady veteran, locker-room leader, and stopgap under center. His 15-year NFL career was interrupted in 2010 by a single-season stint with the United Football League's Hartford Colonials, who count as his ninth professional team.
Though he's expected to transition into coaching, McCown is sure to get offers as a booth analyst. He's widely regarded as one of the toughest quarterbacks to ever play the game, and his experience and extensive injury history could help provide both education and entertainment for fans.
Terence Newman, CB, Vikings
Defensive players are horribly underrepresented in analyst roles, an imbalance that Newman could address.
He'll turn 40 years old in September at the start of his 16th season. Originally drafted fifth overall by the Dallas Cowboys in 2003, he went on to play for the Cincinnati Bengals and will suit up for a fourth season with the Vikings.
Newman's experience playing for and against a wide range of coaches and coordinators would give him insight into many coaching strategies currently in use, allowing fans an all-too-rare look at the game from the defensive side of the ball.
Ryan Fitzpatrick, QB, Buccaneers
Harvard alumnus Fitzpatrick is regarded as one of the league's smartest quarterbacks, and has carved out a 13-year career with seven teams.
Routinely brought in to serve in a backup role, he's earned 119 career starts. The savvy vet has had to quickly learn new playbooks, giving him access to a wide range of looks he can draw upon to inform viewers.
Fitzpatrick's also never been scared to poke fun at himself.
"You look at my career numbers, it’s not like I’m competing with the Hall of Famers," Fitzpatrick said ahead of a return to Buffalo as a member of the New York Jets, according to Sal Maiorana of the Democrat & Chronicle.
His levity would be a strong addition to the booth.
Marquette King, P, Broncos
King's jovial demeanor and on-field celebrations may have come across the wrong way to new Oakland Raiders head coach Jon Gruden and some of his old teammates, but his expressive attitude would lend itself well to a television studio.
The new Denver Broncos punter would be well suited to pre-taped features for pregame shows, like interviewing players on lighthearted topics or coaching them in new celebrations.
(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)